GRCC In the News, 1-30-20

A 10-year ‘slog’ results in Newsmaker of the Year

Jan. 29, 2020; Grand Rapids Business Journal

Some of the region’s best newsmakers have to slog for 10 years before making a powerful punch.

… 2019 Newsmakers by category

… Education: Bill Pink, president, Grand Rapids Community College

Aquinas Men’s Soccer Announces Additions of Colucci, Olson, Fett, Richards, and Jimenez

Jan. 29, 2020; Victory Sports Network

The Aquinas men’s soccer team and head coach Luke Ruff are excited to announce their 2020 recruiting class, with members that will begin play in Fall of 2020.  We will announce all of the new Saints over the coming days in small groups.

… Daniel Jimenez I Grand Rapids, MI I Grand Rapids Community College

A transfer from Grand Rapids Community College, Jimenez was a two-year varsity player at Union High School in Grand Rapids. There, he earned All-Conference honors and helped Union to a Conference championship. “What made me choose Aquinas was that I liked how the people treat you in the building,” said Jimenez. “I liked the many careers they offer and they have the career that I am looking for and I also like the soccer program they offer, it’s really good. I am very excited to play on the soccer team and I will try to give my best to earn a place on the squad and that I will be able to develop in an educational way at Aquinas.” Added Coach Ruff,  “Daniel shows a great commitment to this program. He has the kind of character we look for in a Student-Athlete”

Grand Rapids ‘really happy’ with driverless shuttle program

Jan. 29, 2020; WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A pilot program that brought driverless shuttles to downtown Grand Rapids has exceeded the city’s expectations, officials say.

… He added a lot of the ridership is from Grand Rapids Community College and Kendall College of Art and Design students, given the route has stops close to campus buildings.

Financial Aid executive director candidates to make presentations next week

The Executive Director of Financial Aid screening committee would like to extend an invitation to the campus community to attend the candidate presentations. You will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the candidates’ presentations.

Dates: February 5 and 6

Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Location: 129 RJF (Formerly Main)

If you have any questions, please contact Laura Caulk in Human Resources.

College Channel programming through Feb. 7

The College Channel schedule includes “History Detectives” presentations.

Sign up for GRCC Employee Family Swim event

Please sign up now via Google Form so we can track the amount of people coming.

Stick around the Fieldhouse for the 1pm GRCC Basketball game (FREE admission!)

Questions? Need more info? Contact Angela at angelasalinas@grcc.edu

GRCC planning internal grant opportunities for projects to support, inspire disruptive programs and bring positive change

GRCC is launching an internal grant program designed to offer faculty and staff an opportunity to submit a proposal to pilot new and innovative ideas designed to support and inspire campus community stakeholders and bring positive change to the college.

Any employee, or group of employees, may submit a request for a one-time grant award.

Proposals should:

• Align with the strategic plan.
• Propose to do something new or in a new way with a goal of supporting student success and/or increase efficiency.
• Be accomplished within two years. Please provide a narrative about how you will work to lead implementation if award is granted.
• Include an estimated budget and a narrative that describes proposed disruption.

Proposals should not:

• Include requests for additional staffing.
• Be eligible for other on-campus grants, such as Strategic Leadership Team, Instructional Improvement & Professional Development Program, and Support Staff Professional Development Program.

Proposals will be accepted through Feb. 3. There is no specific form to complete.  Please provide a narrative including the items noted above, as well as a proposed budget necessary for implementation.  Final submissions should be sent to Misty McClure-Anderson in the President’s Office.

The Executive Leadership Team will review all proposals, seeking input from departments across campus. The evaluation and review process will include cost of project, potential impact, and long-term sustainability.

Supervisor support and IT approval as applicable will be sought before final approval is granted. Please engage with your supervisor as you are developing your proposal.

If your idea is selected, please note you are agreeing the college will maintain full ownership of the idea and any derivative processes or benefits.

If awarded, an individual or team might be asked to share progress or results with executive leadership or other teams on campus.

Examples of proposals include:

• Hiring a consultant to review a process looking for improvement.
• Purchasing a piece of equipment to improve a process or system or gain efficiencies.
• Collaboration or partnership forged to improve process or eliminate college redundancies.

Summer, fall instructional software requests

The instructional software request period for Summer and Fall 2020 semesters is now open. If you would like to request any software changes, please coordinate with your department director. Requests for Summer I and II are due Friday, Feb. 28, and requests for Fall are due Friday, May, 29. Please use this link for additional information and to submit requests.

Take Your Child to Work Day returns March 26

Take Your Child To Work Day is coming back again to GRCC on Thursday, March 26, 2020!

The team is still having fun planning this event and more details are coming soon. Stay tuned!

 

GRCC In the News, 1-29-20

GRCC nursing programs hit anniversary milestones

Jan. 28, 2020; schoolnewsnetwork.org (Kent Intermediate School District)

Nursing student Mustafa Ajanovic assisted his best friend, Bayle Delalic, through a prenatal visit, weighing in, checking vital signs, and listening for the baby’s heart tones.

… Shelly Richter, nursing programs director at GRCC, credits interactive experiences — part of a new curriculum — as one reason for a jump in scores on license exams in both the Practical Nursing and Associate Degree programs. In 2019, all nursing students passed those exams — 104 associate degree nurses and 42 LPN students. It was also the largest number of students taking the exams ever in one year.

Meet Dayanny De La Cruz, The First Female Head Chef To Lead The Culinary Program At A Super Bowl

Jan. 28, 2020; Forbes

Dayanny De La Cruz fondly remembers her routine on her way home from school growing up in Nagua, Dominican Republic, which involved frequent pit stops at her grandmother’s house. There, Elvira, affectionately known as “Mama Vira,” would be in the kitchen baking fresh bread or cooking up rice and beans.

… The journey to Super Bowl LIV hasn’t been a smooth road for De La Cruz. After graduating from culinary school at Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, De La Cruz landed her first job as executive chef at the Doubletree Hotel in Skokie, Illinois.

Charge: ‘Nurse’ used dead woman’s license

Jan. 28, 2020; WOOD TV

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A Grand Rapids woman is facing criminal charges after she allegedly used a dead woman’s nursing license to fake her credentials and land a job.

… It does appear that (Tekayta) Teasley attended Grand Rapids Community College for a time.

New Program Makes College Tuition Free in Grand Rapids

Jan. 28, 2020; Metro Parent

Families who live in Grand Rapids have reason to celebrate this month after officials announced that the city is now a Michigan Promise Zone.

That means most high school graduates in Grand Rapids will be eligible for free college tuition at Grand Rapids Community College, starting with the class of 2020, WZZM13 reports.

French Chefs Explain How to Make the Perfect Crêpes

Jan. 28, 2020; Frenchly

Sunday, February 2 is not only the day of the Super Bowl, it’s also Chandeleur, the holiday for eating crêpes. While some will go to the best crêpe shops in their town to celebrate Chandeleur, others will be busy making crêpes at home. We asked French chefs based in the United States for their secrets to making a good homemade crêpe.

Gilles Renusson, an instructor at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education in Grand Rapids, Michigan, recalls the recipe by heart. “Fifty years ago, I entered a hotel as an apprentice and had to learn about 50 recipes by heart, including the crêpe batter recipe,” he says. Immediately, the chef recites the recipe he knows off the top of his head. “You need a liter of milk, 400 grams of flour, seven eggs, 50 grams of butter and sugar, and half a teaspoon of salt”.

Out + About: February 2020

Jan. 28, 2020; Grand Rapids Magazine

… Feb. 22 – GRCC Giants Awards & Banquet: Grand Rapids Community College salutes African-American individuals and organizations for their contributions to the community; benefits Milo Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund. 6 p.m. J.W. Marriott, 235 Louis St. NW. $100. grcc.edu/odei.

XFL rosters feature Connor Cook, 16 others from Michigan schools

Jan. 28, 2020; 95.7 FM

The XFL is back for another try at cracking into the NFL monopoly.

… Most of the Michigan ties come from Michigan or Michigan State, but Nick Truesdell’s affiliation is with Grand Rapids Community College back before they ended the football program in 2012.

Salute to Women nominations due Feb. 1

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is delighted to host the 22nd Annual Salute to Women Awards and Reception on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. We invite members of the GRCC community to nominate persons who exemplify high achievement in community service, leadership, and student engagement.

Nominations, which are due by February 1, 2020, may be submitted online.

You might remember these past recipients:

GRCC In the News, 1-28-20

Trail-blazing Super Bowl chef graduated from GRCC

Jan. 27, 2020; WZZM

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — There’s a dash of West Michigan among the mayhem that is the Super Bowl, but it doesn’t have anything to do with the action on the field.

Grand Rapids Community College alumna Dayanny De La Cruz is the executive chef for Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where the 2020 Super Bowl will be played on Sunday, Feb. 2. She will be supervising meals for tens of thousands of people before the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers battle for the NFL championship.

GRCC receives grant to expand its early childhood education services

Jan. 27, 2020; WZZM

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) received a grant to expand its early education services from 11 sites in the Grand Rapids area to 15.

Muskegon Community College women run away from Grand Rapids in conference clash

Jan. 27, 2020; Local Sports Journal (Muskegon)

The Muskegon Community College women’s basketball team blew out Grand Rapids Community College 79-40 on Saturday in a home conference clash.

Grant opportunity: Humanities grant

Michigan Humanities is sponsoring a $15,000 humanities grant to serve Michigan’s people with public humanities programming. These grants play a vital role in defining our culture, our state, our community and ourselves, and are intended to connect us to Michigan’s rich cultural heritage and historical resources through initiatives that help the people of our state reason together and learn from one another.

Humanities grant funds may be used for:

• Public forums or conferences
• Lecture/discussion series; honoraria and travel for speakers and presenters
• Book/film discussion programs about humanities-related topics
• Interpretive exhibits and catalogues
• Research (may be one component of the project, but not the sole purpose)
• Publications (must be made available to the public)
• Creative or performing arts that serve as a catalyst in a project in which humanities are central, and include interpretation and/or discussion of performances, concerts, literary and art works
• Development of digital projects

The deadline for this opportunity is March 19, 2020. For more information, please contact Kim Squiers in the GRCC Grants Department at extension 2577 or kimsquiers@grcc.edu.

February learning opportunities

We would love to have you join a February professional development opportunity!

Here’s what’s on deck for next month:

• February 10 — Advanced Google Calendar
• February 11 — Resumes & Cover Letters
• February 13 — Introduction to Peoplesoft
• February 14 — Love Your Heart
• February 17 — Title IX Training
• February 19 — FMLA – what’s in it for you
• February 21 — Recognizing signs of marijuana use
• February 26 — Reimbursement Policy
• February 27 — G Suite for Education
• February 28 — Strengths Finder and Essential Oils 101

Register online and get your learning on!

Don’t forget! Tuesday, February 18, is the Winter Warm Up. Join your colleagues between 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Room 108 Sneden for hot soup and grilled cheese.

 

 

GRCC In the News, 1-27-20

Supervising meals at the Super Bowl

Jan. 26, 2020; Community College Daily (American Association of Community Colleges)

Dayanny De La Cruz has a game plan for the upcoming Super Bowl LIV, and it’s got nothing to do with the action on the field.

De La Cruz — an alumna of Michigan’s Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) — is the executive chef for Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, supervising meals for tens of thousands of people as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers battle for the NFL championship.

Award-winning soprano to perform at GRCC Alumni Recital

Jan. 25, 2020; Grand Haven Tribune

Grand Rapids Community College’s Music Department will host award-winning soprano Antonina Chehovska, a 2010 alumna, in a Feb. 4 recital that is open to the public.

Street Talk: Rosy outlook for retail

Jan. 24, 2020; Grand Rapids Business Journal

… Cheap eats

Grand Rapids Community College’s contracted dining company rolled back prices in the Raider Grille and Sneden Café to address food insecurity among students.

Exonerated Central Park Five member calls for ‘true justice, true liberty’

Jan. 24, 2020; schoolnewsnetwork.org (Kent Intermediate School District)

Before a diverse Grand Rapids audience on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Yusef Abdus Salaam, exonerated member of the Central Park Five, spoke about injustices that still fall along racial lines in the United States.

… Now a poet, activist, speaker, husband and father, Salaam presented the keynote speech, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” for the 34th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration. A partnership between Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State and Davenport universities, the event took place at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids.

GEAR UP for tomorrow’s workforce

Jan. 24, 2020;Grand Rapids Business Journal

“Who let the students in? And those teachers, what are they doing here?”

… Grand Rapids Community College is one of many West Michigan stakeholders collaborating strategically to grow a skilled labor force.

(This is an editorial by Steve Beauclair, coordinator of the GEAR UP Wyoming grant at GRCC.)

Who is the top Harper Creek boys basketball player of the decade?

Jan. 23, 2020; Battle Creek Enquirer

You must have seen them, they’ve been everywhere.

… Jeremiah Davis – Class of 2017

A sharp-shooting guard that was dangerous from the 3-point line, Davis was a two-time All-City selection and honorable mention All-State pick. Davis helped Harper Creek to a 15-9 record his senior year as the Beavers won a district title as he was among the top scorers in the city at 18.9 points per game and three assists to go along with three rebounds. Davis went on to play at Grand Rapids Community College.

Tampa Bay Vipers: Players to Watch in 2020, Who Made The List

Jan. 26, 2020; XFL News Hub

The Vipers have a plethora of intriguing players primed to leave their mark on the 2020 season. We take a look at five specific players from both sides of the ball with wildly different paths to the XFL that we at XFL News Hub believe you have to keep an eye on come February 8th.

Nick Truesdell, Tightend

When XFL.com named Truesdell a player to watch in 2020, it confirmed what the Vipers saw in the 6′ 5″ converted wide receiver from Grand Rapids Community College. There is a supreme talented within Truesdell who was the only player in the 2020 XFL draft selected from the Junior College ranks. It has been a long road for Truesdell, whose professional career began in 2014 with the Indoor Football League. Since then, he’s been apart of 10 other professional football organizations including stints with the Indianapolis Colts (2016), Minnesota Vikings (2017), and New York Jets (2019). In his most recent professional play with the Salt Lake Stallions of the now defunct Alliance of American Football, he lead the league in yards, touchdowns, and receptions.

Honors students seek service opportunities

Nearly 100 Honors students, alumni, and staff will be volunteering on Saturday, March 21, for our annual Day of Service event.  Our Honors student site leaders are seeking ways to serve GRCC on this date from 12:00-4:00 p.m.

If your department or area has a volunteer need, please send your request to Michael Schavey at mschavey@grcc.edu by Friday, February 28.

Excellence in Education nominations sought

Here at GRCC, we are truly fortunate to work with staff and faculty who go above and beyond their role at the college, in the community, or in higher education. These individuals make learning at GRCC a meaningful and impactful experience for our students and working at GRCC an honor and inspiration for fellow employees.

To recognize them, please consider nominating them for the Excellence in Education Award! The Excellence in Education Award was established in 1989 to honor an individual Grand Rapids Community College employee. In 2000, the award was expanded to provide recognition in the form of a staff award, and a separate full-time faculty award. In 2010, an additional award was added for an exemplary adjunct faculty member.

There is a cash award of $1,000 for full-time faculty who have taught at GRCC for at least 5 years, and for adjunct faculty who have taught at least 2 years, with a $750 cash award. Staff members also receive a cash award of $1,000.

Anyone can nominate! Deadline for nominations is May 15, 2020.

NEW this year! The application has gone online! This makes the entire process faster and easier.

Start HERE and select either Full Time Faculty, Adjunct, or Staff.

Questions?

• Faculty & Adjunct: Call or email the Provost Office at (234-3920); provost@grcc.edu
• Staff: Call or email Angela Salinas in HR at (234-2567); angelasalinas@grcc.edu

Thank you for taking the time to nominate a deserving member of the GRCC family for these awards.